2. Bolts defence weakened by penalty

The Bolts’ defense was fantastic in the first half on Sunday.

Pittsburgh managed only 112 yards and scored just seven points in 27 plays.

The second half, however, was all about numerous penalties that helped Pittsburgh get back on track.

“That was the name of the game,” said Khalil Mack. “We shot ourselves in the foot a lot out there.”

The trouble started on Pittsburgh’s first drive of the second half, when an 11-yard pass on second and 14 became a long pass due to a personal foul for facemask against Derwin James, Jr.

The penalty helped the Steelers get within field goal range and eventually tie the game at 10-10.

James was later cautioned in the quarter for unnecessary roughness.

Pittsburgh converted on the third and fourth attempts, but the penalty against James added another 15 yards to the 15-yard completion.

“We just have to play clean,” James said. “I could watch some of my goals, I couldn’t watch them. But I just had to play clean, I had one of those, a big one.”

He later added: “I’m not here to referee. I play fast and don’t think about the flag.”

Three plays after James’ penalty, Mack was cautioned for “unnecessary force against the passer” on a play that should have given the Steelers a fourth down.

“I was charged with unnecessary force against the passer, something like that never happens to me,” Mack said. “It was a unique game today, but they were the better team.”

Pittsburgh later scored a field goal and thus earned a 13-10 lead that the team never gave up.

The decisive moment for the Bolts’ defense came about midway through the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh scored on a 55-yard touchdown pass, putting the game out of reach.

“Yeah, they took the momentum at that point and kept it,” Harbaugh said of the third quarter. “That’s how it went.”

“Any kind of drive, any kind of points, three and outs, that gives momentum,” Harbaugh added. “We couldn’t get it back and hold on.”

The Chargers allowed Pittsburgh a total of 346 yards and allowed the Steelers to convert half of their 14 third-down attempts.

Harbaugh said Joey Bosa re-injured his hip on Sunday’s first play. With Bud Dupree already battling an illness, Bosa’s absence limited the rotation the Bolts had used in recent weeks.

“Everyone wants a player like Joey on the field, especially with the rotation we’re used to in the first few games,” Dupree said.

Mack added: “The first play of the game was a tough blow.”